DETROIT. The Cleveland Cavaliers mounted a spectacular comeback to defeat the Detroit Pistons 117-113 in overtime and take a 3-2 series lead in the Eastern Conference semifinals of the NBA playoffs. James Harden led the visiting victory with 30 points, his best scoring output of the postseason, while Donovan Mitchell delivered in crucial moments to bring Cleveland closer to the Eastern Conference Finals.
Kenny Atkinson's team trailed by nine points with just over two minutes remaining in regulation, but responded with suffocating defense and a devastating run to completely turn the tide of the game.
The victory also marks Cleveland Cavaliers' first road win of these NBA playoffs and leaves Detroit forced to win in Ohio to avoid elimination.
Detroit Pistons came out with tremendous energy and appeared to have complete control of the game for much of the night. Cade Cunningham delivered another stellar performance with 39 points and nine assists, consistently leading the home offense from the dribble and in transition.
J.B. Bickerstaff's team led by 15 points during the first half and also found important offensive contributions from Daniss Jenkins, starting in place of the absent Duncan Robinson. The shooting guard finished with 19 points and continued to punish Cleveland's perimeter defense.
The Cavaliers, however, persevered thanks to the experience of James Harden and Donovan Mitchell. Harden not only provided scoring but also eight rebounds and six assists, controlling the team's offensive pace during the game's most critical moments.
Max Strus was another key piece for the Cleveland Cavaliers. The shooting guard made six three-pointers and finished with 20 points, while Evan Mobley added 19 and Jarrett Allen recorded a double-double with 16 points and 10 rebounds.
Detroit appeared to have the game completely under control when they led 103-94 with just over two minutes remaining. But that's when the home offense collapsed and the visiting team mounted their comeback.
The Cleveland Cavaliers dramatically elevated their defensive intensity and held Detroit scoreless for five consecutive minutes spanning the end of the fourth quarter and the start of overtime. The Cavaliers also completed a devastating 13-0 run that completely changed the emotional momentum of the game.
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Evan Mobley tied the game at 103 from the free throw line with 45.2 seconds remaining, capping off a comeback that seemed impossible just minutes earlier.
The final possession of regulation also sparked controversy. Jarrett Allen and Ausar Thompson got tangled fighting for a loose ball just before the buzzer, but the referees decided not to call a foul despite immediate protests from Detroit's bench.
In overtime, Cleveland maintained complete momentum. Donovan Mitchell connected on a crucial three-pointer with 2:39 remaining to put the Cavaliers up by seven and give a definitive sense of control.
Detroit still tried to respond thanks to another shot from Cade Cunningham, which cut the deficit to just two points with 25 seconds left. But James Harden sealed the game from the free throw line and also grabbed his own rebound after missing the second shot.
The Pistons also paid the price for Tobias Harris's poor night, finishing with just 13 points after missing 13 of his 19 shots, while Jalen Duren was limited to nine points and five rebounds.
With this victory, the Cleveland Cavaliers take control of the series for the first time and now have two opportunities to close out the series and advance to the Eastern Conference Finals, where the New York Knicks are already waiting.
Detroit Pistons, meanwhile, finds itself on the brink of elimination after having the game practically won and will need to respond quickly to force a Game 7.